Novak Djokovic clinches doubles Coco Gauff ‘is outrageous’… Tennis fans are split over the pay dispute as it emerges the men’s Cincinnati winner has earned $1million – more than TWICE the female champion
- Novak Djokovic earned more than $1 million for winning the Cincinnati Open
- On the same day, Coco Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova to win her first WTA 1000 title
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Tennis fans are divided after it was revealed Novak Djokovic earned more than double Coco Gauff’s prize money after both won in Cincinnati last week.
Djokovic edged out world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final on Sunday to lift the Western & Southern Open trophy.
The previous Sunday, Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 to win her first WTA 1000 title – and second hard court tournament of the summer.
The 19-year-old’s reward for being named the youngest champion in event history was $454,500. Djokovic, on the other hand, gets $1,019,335 for winning the ATP 1000 crown.
And that despite both playing at the same venue and both contesting three-set games.
Novak Djokovic earned more than $1 million for winning the Cincinnati Open on Sunday
Previously, American Coco Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova to win her first WTA 1000 title
When this “outrageous” inequality was flagged up on social media, several fans said it was bad for sport and proof that gender inequality in sport persists.
“Shit,” wrote one. “This has to stop.” It’s what they call ‘bad for tennis’.’
“That’s grand theft!” another argued. “It’s over half a MILLION ($564,835) LESS for Coco Gauff. ‘It’s wrong enough to make you sick.’
One supporter added: “Outrageous. Shows just how far equality in women’s sport has to go.’
But many other fans also agreed with the idea that male and female players should automatically earn the same amount.
Instead, they argued, the prize money would be determined by commercial considerations such as viewership.
“The men’s draw sold WAY more tickets than the women’s draw,” argued one fan. “The market pays a lot more money and would rather see men’s tennis than women’s tennis.” Basically, it comes down to a basic economics: who more generated should be paid for [sic] more (like in any other job).’
Djokovic jubilantly rips his shirt apart after his three-set epic against rival Carlos Alcaraz
Gauff’s reward for becoming the youngest champion in event history was $454,500
Another supporter claimed, “It’s all about total viewership and ad revenue.” “You know that and could do something constructive and promote the WTA, but you’d rather just make a scene out of it.”
Some supporters argued that the difference simply proves, as one female fan wrote, that “the man’s game is a BETTER product”.
However, another fan suggested that arguments about earnings and eyeballs are a red herring intended to justify a gender pay gap.
“People always want to take advantage of viewership, popularity and ticket sales as if Coco wouldn’t fill the booths religiously,” they wrote. “The prize money is already fixed and depends on who has a penis and who doesn’t.”